KPBS Midday Edition

Imperial County Copes With COVID Increase

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Pat Finn / Producer

Published July 2, 2020 at 1:32 PM PDT

This story was published more than 3 years ago.

An emergency treatment area erected for COVID-19 patients at El Centro Regional Medical Center, Imperial County's largest hospital in this undated photo.

Imperial County, as with other California counties, has seen an increase in positive tests for the coronavirus and cases of COVID-19. How is this mostly rural agricultural region coping with the pandemic?

An average of one of every four people tested for coronavirus in Imperial County tested positive, the highest per-capita rate in the state. The statewide average is 5.7%. There have been 100 deaths in the county thus far from COVID-19, according to the ICPHD website.

Governor Newsom, therefore, told the county last week to re-impose its stay-at-home order.

Janette Angulo, director of the Imperial Çounty Public Health Department, told KPBS Midday Edition on Thursday that the county's stay-at-home order had never been rescinded and that it remained in place.

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Angulo joined Midday Edition on Thursday to discuss the reasons behind the high rate of infection, the capacity of the county's hospitals to deal with it, and what assistance they have received from the state and federal government.

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Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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Pat Finn

Pat Finn previously served as a producer for KPBS Midday Edition and KPBS Evening Edition. Finn began her career in broadcasting at KTLA and KCET in Los Angeles. In 1979 she became KPBS’ Public Information Director, then Director of Advertising and Promotion, Program Director, and Director of Broadcasting. She oversaw the station’s local and national productions, including the one-hour documentary Los Romeros: The Royal Family of the Guitar, and Child Protective Services, a one-hour look inside the San Diego County agency responsible for the welfare of at risk children. Both programs also aired on public television stations nationwide. Finn has earned honors from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

See stories by Pat Finn